Governor oil leg



j? i I May 27 1924. 1,495,214

, N. R. WICKERSHAM GOVERNOR OIL LEG Filed May 7, 1921 .Wilili I g INVENTOR 1a. ATT NEY Patented May 27, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN R. WIOKERSHAM, OF CORNING, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR TO INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GOVERNOR OIL LEG.

Application filed May 7, 1921. Serial No. 467,746.

T 0' all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, NATHAN R. VVIOKER- SHAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Corning, county of Steuben, State of New York, have invented a certain Governor Oil Leg, of which the following is a specification accompanied by drawings.

This invention relates to governing mechanism for engines for driving compressors or pumps, particularly applicable to mechanism of the type wherein the admission of steam to the engine is governed not only by the speed of the engine, but also by the discharge line pressure of the compressor or pump, as disclosed for instance in United States Patent No. 1,278,160, granted September 10, 1918, to Joseph W. Jones and William F. Treiber, assignors to Ingersoll-Rand Company, but the device may be used in any connection in which it is applicable.

In such type of governor, atmospheric air or gases, as ammonia for instance, when compressed, are applied for governing purposes to a regulating cylinder and piston, which are a part of the governing mechanism of the compressing apparatus, but the air or gas may, and in fact ordinarily does escape from the regulating cylinder through leakage, and liquids, such as oil or other materials have been provided as a sealing means to prevent the escape of the compressed medium from the regulating cylinder.

The invention relates more particularly to a device which may be termed an oil leg, for applying such a liquid preferably oil, under pressure, to the regulating cylinder of a regulator, and the objects of the invention are to improve upon such devices and produce an oil leg having many distinct advantages due to its construction and operation, some of which reside in the fact that the sealing liquid is collected after it has passed between the regulating cylinder and regulating piston, and is returned to the chamber or receptacle from which it was forced by the action of the pressure medium, thus avoiding waste and protecting the sealing liquid from oxidation, contamination of foreign bodies and collection of dirt and grit.

Furthermore, in my construction, the cycle is automatically repeated, after the liquid has been returned to the original receptacle from which it started, so that the attention of'the care taker is only required when it becomes necessary at infrequent intervals to transfer the sealing liquid from the co-llecting receptacle to a pressure chamber. During this transfer, the device may be so manipulated that the governing of the compressor or other regulated mechanism is not disturbed or affected. I Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear and to all of these ends the invention consists of the features of construction and combinations of elements substantially as hereinafter fully described andclaimed in this specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view: of an oil leg and a regulating cylinder and piston, the remaining parts of the governing mecha nism being omitted for brevity and clearness Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the oil leg alone on the line 2'2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, and Figures 3 and 4 are detail'sectional views of modified forms of valves between the receiving chamber and the pressure chamber. Referring to the drawings, a regulating cylinder A having a fluid actuated piston B carrying a pin C projecting through the head D of the cylinder is illustrated as that part of a governing mechanism for engines for driving compressors for instance, towhich my invention particularly relates. It is to be understood that a suitable pivoted and weighted arm or other device is adapted to be actuated by the vertical movement of the pin C,but the remaining portions of the governing" mechanism are omitted as form ing no part of the presentinvention.

Liquid, as for instance oil under pressure, is supplied to the regulating cylinder A beneath the piston B through the pipe connection E, and in this instance I have shown the oil. supplied from .a pressure chamber F in a device which I have termed an oil leg provided with the o-peningP controlled by a suitable valve which may be in the form of a set screw Q, as indicated in Figure 2, or may include a check valve as shown in the modification illustrated in Figures 8 and 4, to be described. It is to be understood that the pressure chamber F and the receiving chamber K need not both be in the same casing, but such is a convenient and suitable construction. The cover R of the oil leg may be provided with a vent cock S. An

upper gauge glass T is provided for indieating the height of the liquid in the receiving chamber and? a lower gauge glass T is preferably provided for the pressure chamher to enable the operator to know the height of the oil at all times.

Either the regulating piston B or the wall of the regulating cylinder A is provided with a. groove U shown in this instance in the wall of the cylinder at a point located near the upper end of the piston, when the piston is at the bottom of the cylinder. This groove U as shown, is connected by a return pipe V to the receiving chamber K and a valve W is provided in said return pipe.

In the operation of the apparatus, the pressure chamber F of the oil leg is filled with oil which is subjected to working pressure through the connection II, while the pressure chamber K is empty, and subjected to atmospheric pressure. The oil passes from the pressure chamber F through the pipe connection E into the bore of the regulating cylinder A and in the operation of the regulating piston B, works its way between the walls of the piston and bore of the cylinder, until it reaches the groove U in the cylinder. From this groove the oil flows back to the receiving chamber K of the oil leg and this cycle of operations continues until the operator transfers the oil from the upper receiving chamber to the lower pressure chamber F, in which case the cycle commences over again and continues as described.

In order to fill the oil leg on starting, the valve formed by the screw Q is closed and the upper receiving chamber K is then filled with oil through the filler plug K. and the valve Q is opened to pass the oil from the upper to the lower chamber.

During the operation of the device, the valve Q in the oil leg is maintained closed and the vent S and return pipe valve IV are open. The oil which leaks past the piston B through the return line V to the upper chamber K is registered in the gauge glass T.

In order to transfer the oil from the upper to the lower chamber, while the regulator is in operation and without disturbing or interfering with the regulating cylinder and piston, the valve IV in the return line V is closed and the vent S is closed, while at the same time the valve Q in the oil leg is opened. The oil will flow from the upper to the lower chamber while the regulator is in operation and when the gauge glass T shows that the upper chamber is empty, the valve Q is closed, and the valve W in the return line and vent S- for the oil le is opened. The valve in the supply line if is maintained open, because when pressure is cut off the governing of the compressor will be disturbed.

In the modification shown in Figure 3 a check valve is provided between the receiving chamber and pressure chamber, and this valve may take the form of a ball a. cooperating with a seat Z) in the bore 0 of the set screw Q. A pin (Z retains the ball in the set screw. A spring 0 in a recess f behind the seat 6 tends to unseat the valve upon sufficient reduction of pressure against the valve. Drain holes 9 are preferably provided in the stem of the set screw as shown.

In the operation of the check valve, the pressure built up in the pressure chamber F forces the ball valve against its seat. When the compressor shuts down for instance, and the pressure drops in the pressure chamber F, the spring 6 opens the valve a and permits oil to flow through the drain holes 9 and past the valve to the chamber F. As soon as the compressor starts up, the valve a closes automatically and the oil leg functions as before. The set screw may in addition be manipulated by hand as in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a modified form of check valve adapted to be inserted in the partition L of the oil leg. In this form a valve seat in the form of a plug h is adapted to be screwed into the partition L and carries a valve y having a spring k around the stem 0 of the valve beneath the valve head. A pin p retains the valve in the plug and prevents it from falling out of position. Drain holes 9 are preferably provided in the plug at the sides of the screw driver slot 7' and communicating with the recess in which the spring is: is seated. v

In operation, pressure in chamber F closes the valve h. and release of pressure permits the valve to open under the influence of the spring is, so that oil passes through the holes 9 and past the valve from the receiving chamber to the pressure chamber. The valve closes automatically when pressure is applied tothe pressure chamber F.

The check valves shown in Figures 3 and 4 are adapted for an oil leg in which the receiving chamber is above the pressure chamber so that oil passes from one to the other by gravity, but my invention contemplates a check valve between the two chambers however arranged.

In governing mechanism of the charac-, ter described, it is necessary that the walls ofthe regulating cylinder A and piston B be copiously lubricated at all times .to insure proper governing and that they be kept absolutely free from grit or gum. The pres A and piston B, as well as the lubricating oil or sealing liquid, which is essential in this type of governing mechanism.

The oil contained in the oil leg simply circulates and does not come in contact with the atmosphere, or any foreign body, other than such impurities as may be carried into the oil leg by the gases or chemicals which exert their pressure on the lower pressure chamber F. This pressure chamber F is preferably constructed and arranged to allow these impurities to be drawn oif through the drain J provided at the bottom.

I am not to be understood as limiting the invention to the construction shown and described, since the apparatus for filling, gauging the height of the oil in the upper or collecting chamber and transferring the sealing liquid or oil from one chamber to another may be altered in different ways, or equivalent devices employed without departing from the spirit of my invention set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In governing mechanism for engines, the combination of a regulating cylinder and fluid actuated piston, a separate casing having two chambers, one forming a pressure chamber and the other forming a receiving chamber, and means for supplying liquid under pressure fro-m said pressure chamber to the regulating cylinder beneath said piston without drawing liquid from the receiving chamber, and means for continuously collecting the liquid in the receiving chamber of the casing as it passes from one side of the piston to the other between the cylinder and piston during the operation of the piston, including means for returning the liquid to the pressure chamber from the receiving chamber,

2. In governing mechanism for engines, the combination of a regulating cylinder and fluid actuated piston, aseparate casing having two chambers, one forming a pressure chamber and the other forming a receiving chamber, and means for supplying liquid under pressure from said pressure chamber to the cylinder beneath said piston without drawing liquid from the receiving chamber, and means for continuously collecting the liquid in the receiving chamber of the casing as it passes from one side of the piston to the other between the cylinder and piston during the operation of the piston, including means for returning the liquid to the pressure chamber from thereceiving chamber without disturbing or interfering with the operation of the said regulating cylinder and piston. 3. In governing mechanism for engines, the combination of a regulating cylinder and fluid actuated piston, a receiving receptacle open to atmospheric pressure, a pressure chamber and means for supplying liquid under pressure from said chamber to the cylinder beneath said piston without drawing liquid from the receiving receptacle means for continuously collecting the liquid in said receiving receptacle as it passes from one side of the piston to the other between the cylinder and piston, and a valve for transferring the liquid from the receiving receptacle to the said pressure chamber.

at. In governing mechanism for engines, the combination of a regulating cylinder and fluid actuated piston, a receiving receptacle open to atmospheric pressure, a pressure chamber and means for supplying liquid under pressure from said chamber to the cylinder. beneath said piston without drawing liquid from the receiving receptacle, means for continuously collecting the liquid in said receiving receptacle as it passes from one side of the piston to the other between the cylinder and piston, and a valve for transferring the liquid from the receiving receptacle to the said pressure chamber without disturb-ing or interfering with the operation of the said regulating cylinder and piston.

5. An oil leg for supplying sealing liquid under pressure to the regulating cylinder and piston of engine governing mechanism, comprising a casing having a pressure chamber and a receiving chamber, said receiving chamber being open to atmospheric pressure, a connection for supplying liquid underpressure from the pressure chamber to the point of use, a controllable connection for collecting and returning the liquid from the point of use to the receiving chamber, and a valve for transferring the liquid from the receiving chamber to the pressure chamber of the oil leg. i

6. In governing mechanism for engines, the combination of a regulating cylinder and fluid actuated piston, a separate casing having a pressure chamber and means for supplying liquid under pressure from said pressure chamber tothe cylinder beneath said piston without drawing liquid from an additional source, means for continuously collecting the liquid as it passes from one side of the piston to the other between the cylinder and piston during the operation of the piston, and a valve for automatically returning the liquid after it is collected to the pressure chamber upon fall of pressure in said pressure chamber.

7. In governing mechanism for engines, the combination of a regulating cylinder and 5 fluid actuated piston, a pressure chamber and means for supplying liquid under pressure from said chamber to the cylinder beneath said piston, means for collecting the liquid after it has passed between the cylinder and piston, and hand operated means including an automatic check valve for returning the liquid to the pressure chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

NATHAN R. WICKERSHAM. 

